Post-doctoral Scholars and Graduate Students
Chelsea Anorma
Post-doctoral Scholar
Ph.D. Chemical Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2020
B.S. Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry, UCI, 2014
canorma@uci.edu
Fun Fact: While on the drive to move to California, Chelsea stopped to get gas in Catoosa, OK and noticed a small pet store was going out of business. Always wanting a pet, she decided it was a sign and adopt all of the remaining animals. What’s even more surprising is she defied the odds by making the rest of the 1400 mile journey with three miniature bunny rabbits, a crested gecko, a chocolate lab puppy, and one betta fish in her meticulously maintained 1993 Geo Metro.
Megha Unhelkar
Analytical Chemistry Graduate Student
M.S. Pharmacology, Northeastern University, 2013
B.S. Pharmacy, University of Mumbai, 2011
munhelka@uci.edu
Fun Fact: While hiking across the Rockies last summer, Megha adopted a baby puma. “It was the most magical eight minutes of life before we were nearly mauled,” she said.
Jessica Kelz
Chemical and Materials Physics (ChaMP – Chemistry) Graduate Student
B.S. Chemistry, Mandarin Chinese Minor, US Naval Academy, 2008
jkelz@uci.edu
Fun Fact: While abroad before graduate school, Jessica spent over a year teaching children how to yodel. “If yodeling isn’t music, then I don’t know what music is” she says.
Marc Anthony Sprague-Piercy
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California – Irvine, 2015
Fun Fact: Marc thinks he’s funny. Example: What did the fish say when he hit a concrete wall? ‘Dam’.
Brenna Norton-Baker
Organic Chemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Biochemistry, B.A. Chemistry, College of Charleston, 2015
bnortonb@uci.edu
Fun Fact: When not working in lab, Brenna can be found woodworking. Her most notable works are a 15 foot tall replica Trojan horse and 1/100 scale model of the the Eiffel Tower!
Jose Uribe
Physical Chemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Chemistry, Cal State San Bernadino, 2018
jluribe@uci.edu
Fun Fact: He is a light sleeper, but probably not the way you’d think. Most nights he sleeps with his eyes open so any stray light will wake him up. He says, it’s not as bad as it sounds though because at least he doesn’t have to worry about loud neighbors.
Megan Rocha
Chemical Biology Graduate Student
B.A. Chemistry, Whitman College, 2017
rochama@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Megan has a recurring dream about burrito babies, so now she insists on naming each one of the burritos she orders. Some of her favorites are Vegeta (vegetarian), Hamilton (carnitas), and Keegan (vegan).
Marquise Crosby
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 2019
mcrosby@uci.edu
Fun Fact: His League of Legends screen name is Cardi B. He has an app that generates sound bites of her and uses only that to communicate with teammates during the game…OKURRR?!
Gemma Takahashi
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Graduate Student
B.S. Geobiology, California Institute of Technology, 2019
grtakaha@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Gemma insists that the only way to cut a grilled cheese, is along the cheese.
Undergraduate Researchers
TJ Cross
Chemistry Major, (2021 Expected)
crosstj@uci.edu
Fun Fact: He once had a “cat”astrophe that required him to rush out of class and to an emergency vet. He had recently felted a hat for his cat which almost choked on it. Being intelligent creatures it can only be assumed that the act of ingesting the hat was a vain effort to maintain its dignity.
Elliott Einstein
Biology Major / Chemistry Minor (2021, Expected)
eeinstei@uci.edu
Fun Fact: He intentionally pops his lab coat collar. Not only is it more safety conscious, but as a fan of tennis, he claims it helps him “get his head in the game” in lab.
Allison Pineda
Biology Major (2021, Expected)
Fun Fact: Allison enjoys watching horror films but does have an interesting phobia. She is scared of the sound of cracking knuckles (Condylacousticophobia).
Sofiya Momoko Woodcock
Double Major in Chemistry and Criminology, Law, and Society (2021, Expected)
swoodcoc@uci.edu
Fun Fact: Sofiya is a saber fencer. To get amped up for a match she uses the mantra “My name is Sofiya Woodcock. You assaulted my plastron. Prepare to die!”